Scarcely a production of Mr. Simms has been unmarked by a cordial reception from the best literary journals; and the praise of the London _Metropolitan_ and _Examiner_--the former when under the conduct of Thomas Campbell, the latter of Albany Fonblanque--was generously bestowed, especially on _Atalantis_; of which the _Metropolitan_ said, "What has the most disappointed us is, that it is so thoroughly English: the construction, the imagery, and, with a very few exceptions, the idioms of the language, are altogether founded on our own scholastic and classical models;" and Fonblanque, in reviewing a tale by Simms, entitled, _Murder will Out_, said, "But all we intended to say about the originality displayed in the volume has been forgotten in the interest of the last story of the book, _Murder will Out_. This is an American ghost story, and, without exception, the best we ever read. Within our limits, we could not, with any justice, describe the whole course of its incident, and it is in that, perhaps, its most marvellous effect lies. It is the _rationale_ of the whole matter of such appearances, given with fine philosophy and masterly interest. We never read any thing more perfect or more consummately told." But the testimony of the critical press, or even of the successful sale of an author's works, is not so suggestive of merit as the fact that his productions have entered into the popular mind; and this tribute Mr. Simms has received in the fact that in regions which he has identified with legends created for them by his own genius, localities of his different incidents are pointed out with a sincere belief in their historical verity. The dramatic powers manifested in his novels, have been still more largely displayed in his _Norman Maurice_, a play of singular originality, in design, character, and execution, the nervous language and felicitous turns of expression in which remind us of the best of the old dramatists. We have heretofore expressed in the _International_ a conviction that Norman Maurice is the best American drama that has yet been published--the most American, the most dramatic, the most original. As a member of the Legislature of his native State, and on various public occasions, Mr. Simms has vindicated a title to fame as an orator; and a recent nomination for the presidency of the South Carolina College, although he declined being a candidate, is an evidence of the impression which his ability, information, and high character have produced on his fellow citizens.